louie_db9 wrote:Australia thrashed India in first Test on a 'poor' pitch so it's not impossible to see them win the third Test on a similar/worse track.

It was the bounce the Aussie bowlers were getting in both the 1st & 2 tests that caused so many problems for the Indian Batsman. This wkt is suppose to not only turn but keep low as well, thats the type of wkt which will nullify Australia completely, our bowlers did do the job in the 2nd test, it's the batsman who let us down.

Honestly, did CA expect the BCCI to prepare a fast deck just for Cummins? Sure and pigs will fly. Wickets will come in this test on this shocking pitch only if our quicks pitch it up on the stumps a method Josh Hazlewood found so successful at Bangalore. There could also be some reverse as it looks an ball abrasive pitch. Win or lose the toss the Aussies are in for one hell of a struggle here. Sadly I do not think they are up to the task of levelling the series and taking it into a decider.

Last edited by baggygreenmania on Wed Mar 15, 2017 4:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

baggygreenmania wrote:This shocker of a deck looks like completely nullifying any venom from Cummins. Honestly, did CA expect the BCCI to prepare a fast deck just for Pat? Wickets will come in this test on that pitch only if our quicks pitch it up on the stumps a method Josh Hazlewood found so successful at Bangalore. There could also be some reverse as it looks an ball abrasive pitch. Win or lose the toss the Aussies are in for one hell of a struggle here. Sadly I do not think they are up to the task of levelling the series and taking it into a decider.

I could actually see Australia bringing in a Spinner for Starc and Stoinis for Mitch Marsh on this wkt. I would like to see the Match ref get someone to bowl 1/2 Dozen balls on that wkt and check that it is fit for Test Cricket.

baggygreenmania wrote:This shocker of a deck looks like completely nullifying any venom from Cummins. Honestly, did CA expect the BCCI to prepare a fast deck just for Pat? Wickets will come in this test on that pitch only if our quicks pitch it up on the stumps a method Josh Hazlewood found so successful at Bangalore. There could also be some reverse as it looks an ball abrasive pitch. Win or lose the toss the Aussies are in for one hell of a struggle here. Sadly I do not think they are up to the task of levelling the series and taking it into a decider.

I could actually see Australia bringing in a Spinner for Starc and Stoinis for Mitch Marsh on this wkt. I would like to see the Match ref get someone to bowl 1/2 Dozen balls on that wkt and check that it is fit for Test Cricket.

The three decks to date have been unfit for test cricket Mick.. but does the spineless ICC do anything about it. A reprimand is all they give the BCCI.. Big deal does not stop them doing it test after test. There needs to be a law enforced to stop pitch doctoring

Mick180461 wrote:I could actually see Australia bringing in a Spinner for Starc and Stoinis for Mitch Marsh on this wkt. I would like to see the Match ref get someone to bowl 1/2 Dozen balls on that wkt and check that it is fit for Test Cricket.

The three decks to date have been unfit for test cricket Mick.. but does the spineless ICC do anything about it. A reprimand is all they give the BCCI.. Big deal does not stop them doing it test after test. There needs to be a law enforced to stop pitch doctoring

Tests are only called off if the Players safety comes into it, I've seen it happen twice both times in the Windies, against England in about 98 when the ball would either take off or literally run straight along the ground. The batting side was 3/17 off 10 overs and the match Ref stopped the test and a game 2-3 yrs ago when the outfield was nothing but sand.

Loose halo wrote:DID ANYONE SEE THE BALL SHOOTING ALONG THE GROUND SIX INCHES ABOVE THE DECK IN THE LATER STAGES OF EACH TEST?

GREAT FUN TO WATCH BUT THIS IS TEST CRICKET DESIGNED TO FAVOUR GOOD BATTING AS WELL AS BOWLING BELOW THE BELT.

Can not hear you are shouting Loose halo. Very witty. Let us hope that at least the ball comes on in this test match. I expect tho we will not see a lot of the quicks as this deck looks a spin dominating one to me. Another tedious spin fest. Give me a good honest, bouncy, Aussie or Saffer deck any day.

Last edited by baggygreenmania on Thu Mar 16, 2017 5:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

Mick180461 wrote:The Aussies have won the toss, Cummins in and we are going to have a big show this test.

That is a good start Mick. Cummins needs to put on the after burners and blast out their top order. Why Maxwell? Any advantage with the toss just went out the window. They are resurrecting a batsman who has not played in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a test match for three years..in a series deciding game. Even Stoinis.. better bat or Agar..better bowler would have been wiser choices.

Last edited by baggygreenmania on Thu Mar 16, 2017 4:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

Of the last 8 tests in India, Australia has won the toss and batted 7 times for 1 win & 6 losses, it's an absolute fallacy that batting 1st makes any difference, the vast majority of tests are won by the side that plays better Cricket not the toss. Winning the toss on this wkt is a great start for Australia but we are still going to have to play very good Cricket and we need to put a combined total of around 600 runs (over 2 innings) to give the Spinners the chance to win this test.

baggygreenmania wrote:Oh yes the sub continental specialist a whole 2 runs. SMarsh now averaging less than Warner this series.Peter Handscomb could use a score. Had lofty hopes for him prior to this series.

Mike the thing that riles me is this was supposed to be a squad picked on a horses-for-courses basis. That is batsmen that show some competency against spin as that was to be the discipline that would most worry us playing in India. In the three tests to date I have seen no more than two, Smith and Renshaw that can handle the best spin that India can throw at us. Handscomb as been a major let down as the pundits were saying that he is perhaps our best spin player. He has not yet shown that. Today could be the day when he gets his tour on track. I have seen Maxwell use his feet at home against the spinners. But this is different from batting at home.

One thing with this Australian side they will be very sharp in the field, with both Maxwell & Warner in the outfield.So Baggers who's the expert super player of spin bowling that got left behind in Australia because to be truthfull i can't think of any one off the top of my head.

Last edited by Mick180461 on Thu Mar 16, 2017 7:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

Aussies are always sharp in the field. We want those two to score runs. That is what they are in the side for.. plus for Maxwell to maybe jag a wicket or two. I just fiddled thru the stats and guess who is scoring more runs that Warner, Marsh and Handscomb and useless Wade too? Mitchell Starc..is third after Renshaw and Smith. They should hang their heads.

Mick180461 wrote:One thing with this Australian side they will be very sharp in the field, with both Maxwell & Warner in the outfield.So Baggers who's the expert super player of spin bowling that got left behind in Australia because to be truthfull i can't think of any one off the top of my head.

Top of my head Mick..George Bailey and Hilton Cartwright are better than these knobs.

baggygreenmania wrote:Mike the thing that riles me is this was supposed to be a squad picked on a horses-for-courses basis. That is batsmen that show some competency against spin as that was to be the discipline that would most worry us playing in India. In the three tests to date I have seen no more than two, Smith and Renshaw that can handle the best spin that India can throw at us. Handscomb as been a major let down as the pundits were saying that he is perhaps our best spin player. He has not yet shown that. Today could be the day when he gets his tour on track. I have seen Maxwell use his feet at home against the spinners. But this is different from batting at home.

Horses for Courses had 1 stipulation, they had to be selectors favourites as well. Renshaw in a way has been the only constant for Australia even Smith said he had a poor 2nd test only scoring 36 runs in total, but he can't be expected to do it every innings, Marsh did Ok in the 2nd test but Warner as been consistently poor throughout, and not just this series, overseas in general, not forgetting he is Australia's most capped player, supposedly the 2nd best batsman in Australia, yet rarely gives an innings of any note that bails Australia out of trouble. I expected Renshaw and Handscomb to struggle in their first overseas test series, Renshaw has stepped up, very much in the mould of the greatest opener ever in Hayden, who made his mark in the India test series, lets hope that's a sign of things to come. This test may be Handscomb's time, if not, I won't hold it against him. We have to get rid of the show ponies ASAP, 6 loses in the last 11 tests (7 in 12 if we lose this one).